Page 33 of The Marquess's Final Fling
Theo took the large Chippendale by the fire. He riveted his gaze on her, hot and intense.
Penn tore her attention from him and focused on his children.
Violet perched herself on the settee behind her with a grace extraordinary for one so young. Looking for direction or approbation, she glued her eyes to her father.
Suzanna quickly scrambled up next to her sibling and folded her hands, then didn’t, then tried again—desperately—not to fidget.
“I wonder if you have a favorite for tea?” Penn took a quick step toward the chair, but her head spun and she groped for the armrest.
Aware he watched her like a bird of prey, she tossed her head. That made her dizzy spell a whirlwind. But she smiled at Violet, then Suzanna.
Violet nodded. “I like cake.”
Suzanna said, “Taffy.”
“Cake I’m certain we have. But taffy, I am not—”
“Taffy?” Suzanna frowned. “Papa?”
Violet took up the topic. “Papa said you have a good cook.”
“I do. I like to eat.”Usually. Not today though.She put a hand to her stomach and wondered where Williams was with the tea tray.
Concern spread across Theo’s face.
She pressed her palm to the seat of her chair.
“You do like cake?” Violet was bright with hope. “What kind do you have?”
“A sponge, I believe.” The very idea set her throat to close.
“Suzanna likes lemon curd,” Violet said. “Have you any of that?”
“We shall see,” Penn said and hoped to heaven Williams returned soon with the goods. She had to speak of something besides food!
Within a few minutes, he did her proud with a fine display of cakes and little sandwiches, jams and jellies. She piled their little plates high, but not her own. One slice of cake was enough…and even that she did not dare to touch.
She focused on their conversation. Their home north near York and how they liked snow and hated rain. They spoke of Christmas and the gifts they’d received.
“I understand you spent the holidays with your aunt and uncle and your cousins.” She drew them out and their ensuing discussion was one of all the joys of the season.
“Aunt Annabellehad orange cake and taffy,” said Violet. “And plum pudding.”
“Don’t like plum pudding,” said Suzanna with definite distaste.
Penn’s stomach rolled in agreement.
“I gather,” said Theo with his gaze on Penn’s hand at her midriff, “Lady Goddard agrees with you, Suzanna.”
She gulped. “Not my favorite, so true.”
He stared at her with not a trace of humor on his face. “I say, my dears, do finish your tea. We have preoccupied Lady Goddard far too long.”
The children gobbled the last of their cake, used their little serviettes to wipe the last crumbs from their mouths and hopped down to the floor.
“Thank you, Lady Goddard.” Violet spread her skirts and bobbed.
Her sister did her finest imitation.
